Beauty salons and, in particular, nail bars have become increasingly common in the last decade, thanks in part to the popularity of acrylic nails.
It is vital that safe work procedures are applied to reduce health risks for employees and customers. CoSHH legislation must be enforced and risk assessments must be performed for all chemicals.
Some ingredients in beauty and cleaning products, such as the solvents in nail polish removers, can irritate the skin and cause dermatitis.
Contact with blood and tissue residue from piercings or tattoos can lead to infection.
However, this article seeks to examine the health risks associated with cosmetic nail procedures.
Some ingredients in acrylic powders and liquids can cause skin allergies and asthma.
When creating acrylic nails, it is possible to get bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
Dust filings from artificial nails can cause wheezing, chest tightness, and asthma, and acrylic fumes can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
There are certain procedures that must be followed to reduce any health risks:
Do not allow eating, drinking or smoking inside the room.
The nail area should be treated with respect so that infection is less likely.
Make sure employees and clients wash their hands after a cosmetic procedure.
Make sure CoSHH safety data sheets are available for each chemical used and follow through with CoSHH task-based risk assessments.
Always follow the instructions given by the manufacturer regarding PPE, such as wearing gloves or masks.
Keep the workplace well ventilated, using ventilated tables if possible.
Make sure any substance you use is kept in closed, marked containers to reduce the amount of chemicals in the air.
Any equipment that comes in direct contact with the skin, such as nail files, should only be used once or at least sterilized between clients. This will reduce the risk of infection.
Any material that has had acrylic contact should be placed in a sealed bag before disposal. This also applies to any other material affected by chemicals like cotton etc. This will help reduce the amount of chemicals in the air.
Customer information must be recorded and procedures may not be performed if the following are true:
The client has had previous skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema or sensitive skin.
The client has any allergies.
The client has bad skin or the nail is not in good condition.
Client has an existing medical condition or is pregnant.
Salon workers should indicate if they have allergies or are sensitized to the products.
It is essential that employees are informed and well trained in CoSHH legislation and should be an integral part of the risk assessment process.